Kutiy: Indigenous Andean Diaspora Film

Venmo Shana-Inofuentes avoids fees

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This fundraiser is for funds needed to film in Bolivia.

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Kutiy: Our Great Migration

A film from the largest Quechua and largest Bolivian community in the U.S.

Nearly 6 million Native Andeans in the Global North Diaspora.

Systematically erased.

Indigenous-stigma burdened.

It’s time we represent ourselves.

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Kutiy in Quechua means “to return.” Produced by a daughter of this community, which is located in metro Washington, D.C., this short film captures a phenomenon: every year, our youth flock back to their Indigenous pueblos in the Valle Alto of Cochabamba for agricultural ceremonies (Carnavales). Hailing from the nation’s capital, they land in the corn-filled fields of Achamoco, Arbieto, Mamanaca, Villa Verde…

These children of immigrants sophistically straddle realities: English and Quechua language; pop and Andean music; holding university degrees while parents grew up subsistence farming. The strength to embrace their identity in the face of centuries of violent discrimination provides vision for a new world, one where we have the social and economic security we deserve without being forced to sacrifice who we are—a luxury that our ancestors did not have.

Kutiy is a bold act of resistance against centuries of Indigenous erasure across the Americas. It will inspire us to smash stigma, unshackle our inherent power, to celebrate the leadership we’ve shown in creating a world beyond borders.

Our story, our Kutiy, paints a picture of hope for people of all backgrounds; a path to more just, intersectional, and healed futures. Millions of us are thirsty for Kutiy. We deserve it, and so much more.

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Quality & Dedication

I am a daughter of this community. I will produce this film with heartfelt skill, in honor of the enormous sacrifices that our parents made to ensure we grew up rooted—despite living 1,000s of miles from our homeland. We were truly blessed. And I am forever humbled and grateful.

Via 25+ years in dancer and leadership roles in our community, and now Founder and President of the non-profit The Quechua Project, I’ve dedicated myself to our revival. And I always give it all I got. That led to 11 community and national Caporales and soccer championships, as well as my Ivy League B.A. and Georgetown M.A. degrees. Why do I share this? To let you know that I will give no less to Kutiy ❤️. Our People’s stories, our strength, our beauty; they are my passion.

I would be enormously grateful for your support, so that I can give this project what it deserves.

Here’s a peek at my first short film, produced for my Master’s degree at Georgetown University: (link to trailer coming soon!)

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Cast | Crew | Team

Kutiy is an artistic documentary. We will follow Bolivian DMVers back to the Valle Alto; a teen, a young professional, and a young couple with their baby.

Crew:

Values

Mission

Despite its relevance to U.S., Indigenous, and decolonial studies, the subject community is enormously under-researched. As a community-led investigation buttressed by intimate knowledge and lived experience, Kutiy will serve as an unparalleled resource for researchers and general viewers.

The film will also be a gift to its community, providing desired documentation and on-screen representation.

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About the Washington, D.C.-Area Bolivian and Quechua Community

Quechua is a Native Andean language with 8 to 10 million speakers worldwide, and is the largest Native American language group in the world. For many people in our community, it is their native tongue. Post-colonial discrimination has led to centuries of Quechua loss. In South America, societies generally deem Indigenous culture as incompatible with modernity and urban spaces. Many Indigenous individuals there experience deep shame. They are often forced to shed facets of their identity in exchange for socioeconomic security.

Researchers estimate our diaspora community’s population to be anywhere from 120,000 to 300,000. No certain statistics exist, in part due to the large number of undocumented members. The Quechua Project (TQP) was recently founded by the Kutiy film’s producer and conducts pioneer research to uncover such data. TQP has found positive change tied to immigration in the community, with 1.5 and 2nd-generation immigrant youth expressing greater desire to reclaim Indigenous identity.

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Budget

This fundraiser is for the filming costs in Bolivia, to fairly support the production team and subject families.

Donor Circles

When we fundraise for the other phases—filming in the U.S. and post-production—we may have other donor appreciation options.

Others ways to support this film:

❤️Anchata agradeceyki to every one of you, from the bottom of our hearts.

*Travel costs may be considered.